Mf Doom
Operation: Doomsday.

Daniel Dumile is a shocking reality of American and worldwide Underground Rap, a man who from the very first day of his return to the scene managed to channel an aura of charm and mystery around himself.

His entry into the Hip Hop universe dates back to 1991 (at the time he was called Zev Love X), the year in which "Mr. Hood" was released under the Elektra label, the first album of his old group KMD, which included him, Onyx The Birthstone, and his brother DJ Subroc, who tragically died in a car accident after the album's release. In 1993 they released "Black Bastards," which unfortunately didn't have the desired outcome; in fact, a controversy related to the album cover marked the break between the group and the label, which withdrew the album from the market, although it was later released first as a Bootleg and then officially reissued in 2001. From that moment, Zev disappeared completely from the scene, immersed in total despair and disappointment, contemplating revenge against a music industry that had treated him so poorly. Away from everyone and everything, he returned after 5 years, in 1998, when he wandered the clubs of New York with his face covered by a metal mask under the name Mf Doom, a pseudonym derived from a character from the Fantastic Four, the villain Dr. Doom. Mf's talent could not go unnoticed, so in 1999, a legend of the Hip Hop movement, Bobbito Garcia, released "Operation: Doomsday" on his label, Fondle'Em, which marked the definitive return of Metal Face to the scene.

Mf's solo debut is a very Old School flavored record, which is enjoyable to listen to with ease for its entire duration, with fresh and relaxed atmospheres that recall the genuineness of the records produced in the golden age of Hip Hop. Doom produces all the tracks, rapping over them excellently and being accompanied in some pieces by members of his crew, the Monsta Island Czars. He wisely samples 70s Soul with splashes of funk and jazz, which, combined with his eclectic taste and very personal style, produce an almost excellent result, where there are also tough moments with more intense sounds, as in "Gas Drawls," where he samples the beautiful "Black Cow" by Steely Dan, in the singing and keyboards that join with the truly massive drums and his incendiary lyrics for a downright devastating result. The Title-Track is a track with strong emotional charge, thanks also to the chorus sampled from "Kiss Of Life" by Sade. Beautiful. There would be many moments to highlight, but those I feel are representative of the sound created by the eclectic Mf Doom are undoubtedly "Greenbacks" and "Dead Bent", perhaps the most well-known track from the album, which also features a very laid-back video, while the piece with Mf Grimm is less convincing due to the beat slowing down and speeding up.

In conclusion, "Operation Doomsday" is a truly great album, which, despite being nearly ten years old, retains all its depth intact, serving as the launching pad for the new path taken by the London-born rapper, a journey that would eventually lead him to reach his highest peak with the collaboration with Madlib in "Madvillainy".